North Devon Spearfishing

[Pav]

crystal clear!! :t
bait fish in.
but no Bass on the drop of the tide after work for me.
I went to one of my favoured "murky" spots, and if thats clear every where is. Suprised how quick it cleared.
Will be clear until the next swell ruins it! Get on it.

 

[TeddyO]

thanks for the report. Rain coming on Friday...eeek!

 

[Mr. X]

How was N. Devon this weekend? Forecast said rain down south but it was really sunny - unfortunately everybody was ill so it made little difference to us:yack.

 

[TeddyO]

Hi Folks, Well little swell on Sat which give us 3m vis. First time in this year so a bit of a shake down for kit. Saw a big Wrasse and a caught a spider crab and lots of sand eel schools bit no proper fish. Still lot's of fun. Caught a Huss with the kayak today and had it for tea. Good weekend over all. Bring on the clear water. Ted

 

[youngstu]

Hello
Lovely weekend, fantastic surf, can't imagine it did the vis much good though. Went out for a swim last weekend (in the lashing rain). The vis was OK, didn't see much, just some sandeels, spiders a few little wrasse and two tiny bass. I never thought I'd hope for no swell, but lets hope we have some calm weather :hmm

 

[Pav]

Saturday was good! Unusual up here to be able to surf and spear on the same day. However other than some undersized pollock, flat fish and the Wrasse found nothing to take for tea.

Well done on the fish Ted. At least someone had fish for tea in N Devon!

 

[Mr. X]

Hi Folks, Well little swell on Sat which give us 3m vis. First time in this year so a bit of a shake down for kit. Saw a big Wrasse and a caught a spider crab and lots of sand eel schools bit no proper fish. Still lot's of fun. Caught a Huss with the kayak today and had it for tea. Good weekend over all. Bring on the clear water. Ted

3m is good. I usually buck up quite a bit when I see sandeels around. When they all swim in the same direction at speed, I get really interested - often means there is a predator nearby (us. bass or mackeral in my experience).

 

[youngstu]

Went in at Lee yesterday on high tide. Fun diving and checking depths with ebay depth gauge, I was pleased with some 9m dives (although brief). Went off the kayak while a mate paddled it around catching mackerel. Unfortunately yet again Lee although beautiful and nice snorkelling seemed to be entirely fish free (other than some little wrasse).
It was great to get in and enjoy the clear water but it would've been nice to see something to try and shoot.

Stu

 

[Pav]

Lee used to be a banker 3 years ago. Everybody fishes it now! , yaks, boats and spearos. :head ... No wonder the fish have moved on?!

Viz seems to have changed today? No longer crystal clear on the surface. Good under 3m, but it sucks that it changes so quick. I saw nothing tonight but a shoal of Mullet. Still with a couple of Bass yesterday had my fix.

Youngstu tell your better half that you are going spearing for a weekend break and chuck in some petrol money and join us on a road trip! OR.. do what my buddy does and go for the day and ring in the evening and say you didn't realise Pav had planned to stay over! (he seriously did this!! :chatup)

Also open invite for a night dive! Just give us the nod when.

 

[Pav]

scrap that. its clear again
fustrating tonight. Bass but all fustratingly too small to take. What is a worry is that usually when I see Bass of this size they are in big schools, and these were in shoals of 2 - 3 fish and some were single. Bigest fish i saw were around 2lb and again on their own.

i did discover a wreck I havn't seen in shallow water .

 

[Pav]

Couple of Bass, Best 4lb and a Mullet today. New venue! , and well worth the mamouth swim to it. A few big Bass out there, but none presented themselves for a shot. Knackered from the swim. Fingers crossed viz will hold out for tommorow evening.

 

[youngstu]

I'd love to get away for an extended spearing trip but I can't see it happening this summer.
Went in early this morning close to home but this vis wasn't great and I got spooked by an increasing current dragging me the wrong way:duhfortunately I made it back to a good exit point but it was a very early rise for nothing much. Think I did spot a Bass but it scarpered before I could check:head.
Don't know what the weather's got in store for us but I guess the smallish swell may mess up any vis we've got.

Stu

 

[hab1892]

Hello everyone,
This is my first post: I am in the Army and I am lucky enough to be staying at the RM Base - Chivenor, while I'm doing a military course in Aug, I have I hope quite alot of free time in the afternoons from around the 15th Aug.

I have always fancied having a crack at spear fishing; is there anyone around the Barnstable/ North devon area who would be willing to take me out and mentor me/ show me the ropes as it were from mid to late Aug? My enthusiasm far out shines my ability BTW.


Many thanks.

 

[foxfish]

Enthusiasm is a good start! do you have any kit? suit, fins etc?

 

[tribs]

Hello everyone,
This is my first post: I am in the Army and I am lucky enough to be staying at the RM Base - Chivenor, while I'm doing a military course in Aug, I have I hope quite alot of free time in the afternoons from around the 15th Aug.

I have always fancied having a crack at spear fishing; is there anyone around the Barnstable/ North devon area who would be willing to take me out and mentor me/ show me the ropes as it were from mid to late Aug? My enthusiasm far out shines my ability BTW.


Many thanks.

Welcome into the deeper blue world mate.

Tribs

out

 

[hab1892]

Thanks Foxfish, Right now I have nothing... I'm adventerous Training every morning from 10 Aug until 17th around Saunton and with that I have most afternoons free. If someone is willing to take me out after lunch I will pitch up with suit and fins etc..

I've always wanted to have ago at spearfishing but have never had the oppertunity -- basically I feel this is my time

Thanks

 

[foxfish]

Ok but this thread does not actually have many members posting, my English geography is not very good but perhaps you might have more luck asking for help in on of the more active threads?
South Devon is here
http://forums.deeperblue.com/devon/81472-south-devon-report-2009-a.html
& here is a good place to begin your path of spearfishing knowledge...
Beginner Hunting - DeeperBlue Forums

 

[Mr. X]

Welcome Hab1892. I found South Devon great for holiday spearing and the thread is buzzing but N. Devon is probably closer to you. Quite a lot of contributors to the S. Devon thread are from out of area - for a long while it was the only Devon thread.

The nice thing about the South Coast as it has an east-facing coast which can offer some protection from the prevailing SW winds, it also has a southern & western coast for weather and tidal variety. There can be lots of holiday makers congesting the roads. The North Coast is more rugged & wilder. Great for surfing & rock climbing. I have yet to try spearing there but Pav seems to manage quite well. N. Devon could be on the cards for a future spearing/surfing trip for us as the family have been asking for more surfing.

 

[Pav]

MrX pretty much sums it up! I try and get to the south coast when I can. Its can be a bit of a waiting game on this coast, but when it comes together you spend every moment you can in the water. You get used to hunting in 2m viz and chuffed that you can see the end of your gun.

Your keen, but I suggest first that you get in the water without Gun and get comfortable with snorkelling / freediving in cold, murky waters! Then take it from there. Drop us a PM and I'll make sure you start in some safe waters. If time allows I'll join you.

 

[Mr. X]

Thanks for the confirming that Pav

...You get used to hunting in 2m viz and chuffed that you can see the end of your gun...

That's just how I think about Dorset. I used to wish for clearer water but eventually realised that when it gets too clear the fish see me while out of range so now I'm quite happy with 2-4m vis. Less than 1m sucks and I've had a few days like that but swimming further out or diving below it sometimes helps.